California Trip Day 20 - Tuesday

Well, we left for home on a 6 hour drive. Thank God for DVD players in our new van cause I couldn't have survived this trip without it and both the boys at the same time. Before I had kids, I swore I would not let movies or things like that babysit my kids, but that all changed early on. Sometimes WE need the time out, not our kids. On the long drive, I listened to talk radio. I listened to Meet The Peetes on Oprah & friends radio XM. They were talking about "Juneteenth" this week as when slavery ended.

Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.

From its Galveston, Texas origin in 1865, the observance of June 19^th as the African American Emancipation Day has spread across the United States and beyond.

So I called in and talked to the Peetes (Holly Robinson Peete and the football player Rodney Peete). They were so sweet. My question to them was what were their thoughts of raising a black child in a white family. I told them I had advice from my African American friends on both sides of the spectrum. One giving us advice as if we didn't know what we were getting ourselves into not being black. The other said, "Honey, just raise that baby girl just like you would your other children and she'll be just fine". I am undoubtedly confident about the upbringing of our baby-girl "T", so that's not really in question. I know she will always have her Ethiopian culture and she will be well aware of the black culture as that is what she will be perceived as, because she is. But I wanted to hear from them their thoughts on this subject. Rodney said, "I agree with the latter opinion. Just raise her well." Then Holly chimed in and said, "That's all fine, but honey ... please, take care of the hair!!" She had me laughing on the radio waves with that statement. I said, I think I know about the hair, but really, we'll see when she gets here. They raved on about how wonderful it was that we are adopting. Rodney asked before I hung up if I would call them back when "T" gets here.



This has been my saving grace this whole trip. My Garmin Navigation system. Love it! Love it! Love it! I recommend these puppies to EVERYONE and right now they are at a really good price at Sam's Club for $299 and it is a newer model. Go get one now!



Gas prices in the middle of the desert. This was near Mojave Desert.



Huuuuuuuuge tires.



Last chance In-N-Out in Las Vegas! So sad! This was about our 10th visit to this fine tasting hamburger.



Leaving Las Vegas ... it was so hot and so crowded. We could see In-N-Out from the freeway right off of the exit, but it took us 20 minutes to get to it. So much construction to get thru. I heard Dubai has 25% of the worlds largest cranes. I think Las Vegas has the rest. See where your gambling money is going? They keep building for a reason. What happens in Vegas (your money $$$$$$$) Stays in Vegas (your money $$$$$$$).

Glad just to be driving thru......